Page 146 of Sinful Lord

I still need to win Melina back. Because I know I had her. Even if it was just for a day or two, it was the best time of my life. What she does to me is just… fuck. It’s nearly impossible to describe.

It’s not like I’ve never felt love before. Gabriel, Roz and I are a kind of family, after all. But the love I hold for Melina is so different. It’s more passionate. More alive. And far more fragile.

That’s what makes it so dangerous. For the first time in my life, I don’t have a plan. Hell, I have no idea what to do next. All I can think about is what needs to happen. How I get there is a hazy mess.

I guess that’s what love does to you.

“Tytus.”

When I look over my shoulder, I see Maksim lift a finger to his lips. His other hand points ahead. I squint through the shadows until I see it.

A door, baked into the curved and rusted walls.

I click down on my safety, ready for hell.

“Remember what I said,” Maksim reminds me, his voice so quiet it might as well be my conscience. “Easy.”

My shoulders drop and I try to play along. But unlike him, I know there’s no princess behind that decrepit door. Sure, Melina has been locked away by a monster, but not here. And I’d never do anything to hurt her.

Never again.

“On the count of three,” Maksim mouths as we post up outside the door.

Pressing my ear against the worn metal, I listen for any signs of life. All I can hear is my own heartbeat.

It picks up speed as I consider what might actually be waiting for us.

Could Krol really be behind this door?

Shit. I can’t even imagine what he’d look like. Last I’d heard, he’d fallen down some endless pit, pushed to his death by both Gabriel and Rian. I suppose that bit of teamwork could mirror our current situation, with Maksim and I working together for the greater good. But this time, if Krol appears, I’m going to make sure he’s dead before I turn my back.

No one threatens my girl.

“Three… Two… One…”

Taking a wide step back, I fling my heel into the door. It flies off its hinges and we barge inside.

“Where the fuck are you?” I growl, wildly scanning the room with my gun raised.

But it’s quickly clear that we’ve been duped.

“Fuck!” Maksim roars.

He kicks at something and it rattles across the empty floor until it hits one of the empty walls.

This place is fucking barren.

“No one’s here,” I growl, my disappointment turning to rage. “You said he’d be here.”

“Don’t let your anger cloud you,” Maksim glares at me. But true to his word, the fury in his eyes slowly dims. “Look around for clues. Right now, this is our only option. All paths lead to this place.”

“This place is fucking empty,” I grumble.

“Obviously not,” Maksim corrects me, pointing to the rusted can he just kicked across the floor. “Now, swallow that pride of yours and get to work.”

I have to bite my tongue as the old man turns his back on me. He’s right, obviously. But he doesn’t know why I’m so blinded by rage. Usually, I’d be the one talking some sense into my partner—If only Melina hadn’t stolen every last one of my senses.

No. Not stolen. You gave them to her. Willingly.